Key-ring.



H. L. VAUGHAN.

KEY RING.

APPLICATION FILED 050.10. I917.

Patented Mar. 11,1919.

HARRY LOCKWOOD KEY-RING.

Application filed December 1 To all whom it may concern:

' and 13 and the tongues Be it known that I, HARRY L. VAUGHAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illin01s, have invented certain new an useful Improvements in the following is a specification.

My invention relates to key rings, particularly to that kind consisting of a length of chain with a lock for fastening the chain ends together.

The object of my invention is to produce a simple, small and durable lock in the form of a link which is stamped integral from sheet metal, preferably steel. My invention is clearly disclosed on the accompany-' ing drawing in wh1ch Figure 1 shows a proved locking link,

Fig. 2 is an edge view of the link,

Fig. 3 is a top view thereof,

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a sheet metal stamping from which the link is formed,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on plane 55, Fig. 4, showing a modified arrangement,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of link, and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the stamping from which the link of Fig. 6 is formed.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the locking link shown is stamped entirely from sheet metal and. comprises the sides 10 and 11 whose ends 12 and 13 are semi-circular and in overlapping engagement. Near the bend 14 of the link tongues 15 and 16 extend toward each other to form the circular opening 17 for receiving the end link 18 of the chain 19, these tongues serving to lock the link against escape from the opening. Extending upwardly from the curved ends 12 and 13 are the ears 20 and 21 for facilitating1 spreading apart of these ends by the on link 22 of the chain, this end. link being preferably stamped from the same piece of sheet metal.

In Fig. 4 is shown the sheet metal stamping from which the locking link is made. The stamping is 'V-shape with the ends 12 15 and 16 separated. The end link 18 of the chain is slipped around one side of the stamping and into the opening 17 and then the stamping is bent to bring the sides '10 and 11. into'parallelismand the ends 12 and 13 into overlap and reg istration and into spring contact'with each Specification of Letters Patent.

Key-Rings, of which key ring and my imj the other end link of the chain,

UNITED strntrns PATENT onmon.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

o, 1917. Serial No. 206,419.

and 16 are sufliciently close together to lock the link 18 in theopenlng 17. To insert the end link 22 in the locking link, this end link is placed edgewise diagonally between the ears 20 and 21 and then turned into par-. allelism with the ends 12 and 13, this causing these ends to be spread apart to provide entrance opening for the link 22 which can then he slipped down into linking engagement with the ends. To remove the end link 22 it is placed on edge crosswise of the sides 10 and 11 and turned to exert pressure on the sides to spread themapart so thatthe link can be withdrawn. The locking link is not much larger than the chain links and can readily be passed through openings in keys. Being stamped integral from sheet steel the link is very strong and inexpensive and it can be readily opened to receive or release the end link 22.

It may be desirable to insert an eyelet rivet 23 in the opening 17 of the lo king link. Such rivet is inserted in the opening of the stamping before the stamping is bent, the eyelet being then securely held in place, as shown in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 6 and 7 another modified form is shown. Here the link receiving opening 24 is entirely inclosed by the part 25 of the stamping,.the sides 10 and 11 above this part being bent into parallelism to form the locking link. This form of link or that in which the eyelet is used is more desirable for use with chains whose links can readily be opened to be inserted in the opening 24 or in the eyelet, while the locking link of Fig. 1 is more particularly adaptable for use with chains in which the links cannot be readily opened.

I claim the following:

LA locking member for detachably connecting together the ends of a key supporting chain, said member being in the form of a fiat link comprising sidespermanently connected together at one end to receive one en link of the chain and the other ends being semi-circular and in registering overlapping engagement to be spread apart to receive and. ears on. the outside of said semi-circular ends to be engaged by said end'link to separate semi-circular ends to permit insertion of said the ends of a keysupportmg chain, com-] prising a bend and sides extending there" the ends of a the chain,- the free ends from, tongues extending toWard each other from said sides above said bend to form an opening for confining oneendlink of the chain, the free ends of said sides being semi-clrcular and in overlapping registration to be spread apart in a direction-at right angles to the plane of the link for the' entrance or removal of the other end link of the chain.

3. A locking link for connecting together key supporting chain, compr1s1ng a bend and sides extending therefrom, tongues extending toward each other from said sides above said bend to form an opening for confining one end link of of said sides being semi-circular and in overlapping registra tion to be spread apart in a direction at right angles to the plane of the link for the entrance or removal of the other end link of the chain, and ears extending from said a flat link comprising sides secured together at one end to receive one end: link ofthe chain and the other ends being semi-circular and in registeringoverlapping engagement, the sides and ends of said link.- heing of considerably greater Width than. thickness Wherebyto permit spreading apart. of the overlapping ends at right angles to each other to receive the other end link of'the,

chain and whereby; separation of said ends in the plane of the link is resisted.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe I my7na1ne'this lth day of December, A}, D.,

HARRY LOGKWOOD'VAUGHAN.

GopiesIof this patent'may be'obtained for five'cents each, by"addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

" Washington, D. G. 

